Cutting machine



March 31, 1931. p, CANDEE 1,798,929

CUTTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 "WI. 0 ull l 32 HIH TJME.

ATTO NEY March 31, 1931.

2. P. CAN DEE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1927 III- 3 SheetsSheet 2 'INVENTOR Zena .5 P Candee March 31, 1931. z, CANDEE 1,798,929

CUTTING MACHINE 7 Filed Nov. 28, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 51 Zena s P Candea ATTORNEY meme Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ZENAS P. CANDEE, OI WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ABSIGNOB TO THE WATEBBURY FABBEL FOUNDRY LND MACHINE COMPANY, 01 WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A.

CORPORATION 01" CONNECTICUT CUTTING MACHINE Application ma November-28, 1927. Serial No. 230,227. i

My invention relates to a new and improved cutting machine and particularly to the type of such machine that will cut a strip of material into predetermined lengths.

It is the object of this invention, among other things, to produce a machine of this character that will cut the strip of material while in motion and without interruption of such movement, the cutting tools traveling with the strip and having engagement therewith during the cut-off operation; to provide means whereby the lengthpf the pieces cut from the strip may be varied and in this and other ways produce a machine that will have the maximum etficiency with the minimum of mechanism.

To these, and other ends, my lnvention consists in the cutting machlne', having certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like, parts in the several figures Figure 1 is a plan view of my new and improved cutting machine without the motor, straightener and feed mechanism, and the frame in section, upon line 1-1 of Figure 3' Figure 2 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof, the parts in section being taken generallyupon line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end elevation of the body member, slide, cutter mechanism, etc., the arts in section being taken generally upon line 3-3 of Figure 1; and p Figure 4 is a sectional detail view, showing the relative position of the cuttingmechanism and adjacent parts during an idle stroke, the parts in section being taken generally upon line 22 of Figure 1,

In machines for cutting strips of material into pieces, it is the prevailing practice to either operate the cutter mechanism in a path substantially perpendicular to the travel of the strip in fixed ways or the like, and feed the strip intermittently, the stos between the successive feeds being taken a vantage of to operate the cutting mechanism, or either feed the strip continuously, in which case the strip, while in engagement with the knives,

1s held against advancement, so that the strip buckles between the cutting tools and the feed mechanism, and after the knives are disengaged from the strip, the ripples or buckling may still remain therein, or if perchance the strip flattens itself again, it is liable to vary in. length for the next cutting operation.

With such types of machines it is essential that the strip should not slip in the feed mechanism. To avoid this, it is usual to operate the feed mechanism with a pressure upon the strip greater than necessary to advance the same.

These, and other objections to the prior art, are overcome in this invention, wherein the strip of material is fed through the machine continuously and the knives, during the cutting operation travel with and at the same speed as the strip itself, and without in be used as a source of power, if desired. The 1 variable speed mechanism of my present invention, but as shown herein is provided with a shaft 15 driven from the motor 14, by a belt 16, engaging a pulley 27. Upon this shaft are the flanged wheels 18. A second shaft 19, substantially parallel with the shaft 15, is also provided with flanged wheels 20, and a pinion 21. A belt or chain 22 connects these flanged wheels, as is usual. The relative speed of the shafts 15 and 19 is primarily determined by the positions of the flanged wheels 18 and 20, varied through rock levers 23, pivoted to a support 24 having an engagement with the flanged wheels. These levers are moved upon their pivot constitutes no part 25 rotated hut as shown herein comprises in (part a pluralitv of straightener rolls 28 an a pair of feed rolls 29 in advance thereof. These rolls are driven at a constant speed from the shaft 15 by a chain 30 or the like, connected with the pulley 17 thereon and a pulley 31 upon a shaft 32 connected with the straightener mechanism.

9 {Rotatably mounted in the body 10 is a shaft having an eccentric portion 41, upon which a loose collar 42 having integral bands 43 thereon is loosely mounted.

Fixed to the shaft 40 is a gear 44 which meshes into a pinion 45, with which is associated agear 46 that is driven from a pinion 47 upon the shaft 48. This shaft also carries a gear 49 driven by a pinion 50, the teeth of which mesh into'those of the pinion 21.

Rotation of the shafts 48, 33 and 40 is thus derived through the pinion 21, which is actuated by the variable speed mechanism. A pinion 76 also on the shaft 48 drives the gear 34 upon the shaft 33. A crank plate 35, also fixed "on the shaft 33, is provided wlth a radial slot 36, within which is adjustable a block 37, having a stud 38 connected therewith. A slide 51 movably mounted in the body member. by the gibs 52 is actuated through a pitma-n 53 connected therewith by a pin 54 at one end, and at the other end to the stud 38, a nut 55 thereon preventing lateral movement of the pitman in one direction relative thereto. Fixed upon this slide 51 against the shoulder 56, by the bolts 57 or the like, is a knife 58.

A rocker arm 59, to which is secured a knife 64 by the bolts 65 or the like, against the shoulder 63, is hinged to the slide 51 by the stud 60. This pin is cut away for a portion of its length at 61 to permit the strip of material 62 to pass thereby. Fixed on this rocker arm by keys 66 or the like, are three shoes 67, corresponding in number with the bands 43 upon the collar 42. An opening 68 in the rocker arm 59 provides an easy a and convenient means of access to the knife and other associated parts. The rocker arm 59 is actuated in one direction upon 1ts pivot mounting by the collar 42 during the rotation of the shaft 40, at which time the edges of the and when the same is actuated through the shaft 40 the spring 73 is compressed. When this pressure is released the spring returns the rocker arm to its up position and separates the knives, so that they are in the position substantially shown in Figure 4. The

limit of this up position is determined by the contact of one wall of the sleeve a ainst the underside of the head 74 of the ro 72.

The speed of movement of the slide 51 corresponds with that of the strip 62- as it is advanced by the feed ro1ls'29 between the knives.

The length of the stroke of the slide 51 is variable by adjustment of the block 37 toward and away from the center of the crank plate 35, graduations 77 being provided to predetermine such length. i

The mechanism as shown herein is arranged so that the knives are actuated by the shaft 40 during each revolution thereof.

If it is desired, however, to cut longer pieces, a longer time is allowed to feedthe strip between each cutting movement of the knives. This is accomplished by changing the length of the stroke of the slide 51, by

shifting the position of the block 37 toward and away from the center of the crank plate 35 and substituting new gears and pinions for the gear 44 and pinion 45 of different relative sizes. The shaft 40 will then rotate at half or one-third its former speed, or any other desired ratio. In such case the slide 51 will move under the shaft either two, three or more times without beingengaged by the collars 42, substantially as shown in Figure 4. These movements of the slide being idle strokes, but when the eccentric upon this shaft has been moved to its down position, substantially as shown in Figure 2, the collars engage the shoes, and the rocker arm actuated, the knives then cutting the strip therebetween.-

The length of the piece cut from the strip is determined by the period of time between each successive cutting'operation. This period, in turn. is regulated by the speed of rotation of the driven end of the vehicle speed mechanism, that is, the pinion 21. When the desired speed is obtained, the stud 38 will be set on the crank plate 35 according to the selected graduated line 77. When the knives are directly or substantially under the center of rotation of the shaft 40 and the stud 38 in the position substantially shown in Figure 2, the knives cut the strip therebetween.

In Figure 2 the center 78 of the eccentric portion 41 of the shaft 40 is in its extreme down position, at which time the bands 43, are in contact with'the shoe, and the rocker arm is actuated.

In Figure 4 this center is shown' at the right and above the center of the shaft 40, at which time the shoes 67 pass under the integral bands 43 without being engaged thereby.

In both Figures 2 and 4 the three positions of the center 78 illustrate successive positions during each rotation of the pinion 21. When the ratio is two to one, the eccentric collar .42 is in its down position at every second revolution and with the ratio three to one, at every third revolution.

What I claim as new, is

1. In a cutting machine, a bed, a slide having end members extending upwardly therefrom, on the bed, means to operate the slide, a stud connected at its endsto said end members of the slide and having its lower portion cut away to engage and guide the material being cut, a rocker pivoted at one side to the stud and having its opposite side free for vertical movements, a cutter carried by said free side of the rocker, a co-operating cutter carried by the slide, 5 ring pressed means acting upwardl on the rec side of the rocker and carried by the slide to normally hold the rocker in upward position, a series of spaced shoes on the upper face and at the free side of the rocker, a shaft having a corresponding series of spaced camJike means thereon to engage the shoes and thereby depress the free side of the rocker, and means to actuate said shaft.

2. In a cutting machine, a bed, a slide on the bed having end members extending upwardl therefrom, means to operate the slide, a gui e connected with said end members to engage and guide the material being cut, a rocker pivoted relativelyto the slide and having a portion thereof free for vertical movements, a cutter carried by said free portion of the rocker, a co-operating cutter carried by the slide, spring pressed means acting upwardly on the free ortion of the rocker and carried by the sli e to normally hold the rocker in upward position and means having an intermittent contact with the rocker as it passes thereby during its reciprocation to actuate the same.

3. In a cutting machine, a bed, a slide having end members extending upwardly therefrom on the bed, means to operate the slide, a rocker pivoted at one side of the slide and having its opposite side free for vertical movements, a cutter carried by the free side of the rocker, aco-operating cutter carried by the slidef spring pressed means acting upwardly upon the free side of the rocker and carried by the slide to normally hold the rocker in upward position, a shaft having cam-like means thereon to engage the free end of the rocker and thereby depress said free end, and means to actuate said shaft.

4. In a cutting machine, a bed, a slide thereon; means to operate the slide; a rocker hinged to the slide having one end thereof free for vertical movements; a cutter carried by the free end of the rocker; a co-operating cutter carried by the slide; yielding means acting upwardly on the free end of the rocker to normall hold the rocker in an n ward position; an means above the slide or actuating the rocker, said rocker being unrestrained in its upward movement except when engaged by the said actuating means; and means for controlling the latter whereby the said slide and rocker may pass thereby without having contact therewith, except at predetermined periods.

5. The combination in a cutting machine; of a bed; a rotary member with an axis fixed relatively to the bed and whereby during its rotation the space between the bed and rotary member varies; a slide on the bed; means to operate the slide; a rocker hinged to the slide having one end thereof free for vertical movements; a cutter carried by the free end of the rocker; and a co-operating cutter carried by the slide, said rocker during its reciprocation passing through the open space be tween the rotary member and bed and having contact therewith only when the space between the bed and rotary member is at the minimum, at which time said cutters co-operate to cut material therebetween and all of said parts being so arranged and operated that the rocker may pass under the rotary member without being actuated thereby,

6. The combination in a cutting machine; of a bed; a rotary member with an axis fixed relatively to the bed and whereby during its rotation the space between the bed and rotary member varies; a slide on the bed; means to operate the slide; a rocker hinged to the slide having one end thereof free for vertical movements; a cutter carried by the free end of the rocker; a co-operating cutter carried by the slide, said rocker during its reciprocation passing through the open space between the rotary member and bed and having contact therewith only when the space between the bed and rotary member is at the minimum, at which time said cutters co-operate to cut material therebetween and all of said parts being so arranged and operated that the rocker may pass under the rotary member without being actuated thereby; and means for timing the rotation of the rotary member relative to the movement of the slide whereby the cutters will be actuated to cut pieces of material of predetermined length from a single strip of material.

7. In a cutting machine; a bed; a slide thereon; means to operate the slide; a rocker hinged to the slide, having one end thereof free for vertical movements; a cutter carried by the free end of the rocker; a co-operating cutter carried by the slide; yielding means acting upwardly on the free end of the rocker to normally hold the rocker in upward position; and means above the slide for actuating the rocker, said means in some of its positions being out of the path of movement of the rocker and in other of its positions in the'path thereof, whereby the rocker is moved upon its mounting as it passes thereby during its reciprocation,

8. In a cutting machine; a bed; a slide thereon; means to operate the slide; a rocker hinged to the slide, having one end thereof free for vertical movements; a cutter carried by the free end of the rocker; a co-operating cutter carried by the slide; yielding means acting upwardl on the free end of the rocker to normally ho d the rocker in upward position; and means above the slide for actuating the rocker, said means rotatin about an axis fixed relatively to the bed an in some of its 4 positions being out of the path of movement of the rocker and in other of its positions in the path thereof whereby the rocker is moved upon its mounting as it passes thereby during its reciprocation.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature. 4

ZENAS' P. CANDEE. 

